Poems of power [electronic text]

ALL THAT LOVE ASKS

ALL that I ask," says Love, "is just to stand And gaze, unchided, deep in thy dear eyes; For in their depths lies largest Paradise. Yet, if perchance one pressure of thy hand Be granted me, then joy I thought complete Were still more sweet.

"All that I ask," says Love, "all that I ask, Is just thy hand clasp. Could I brush thy cheek As zephyrs brush a rose leaf, words are weak To tell the bliss in which my soul would bask. There is no language but would desecrate A joy so great.

"All that I ask, is just one tender touch Of that soft cheek. Thy pulsing palm in mine, Thy dark eyes lifted in a trust divine And those curled lips that tempt me overmuch Turned where I may not seize the supreme bliss Of one mad kiss.

"All that I ask," says Love, "of life, of death, Or of high heaven itself, is just to stand, Glance melting into glance, hand twined in hand, The while I drink the nectar of thy breath,

In one sweet kiss, but one, of all thy store, I ask no more."

"All that I ask" —nay, self-deceiving Love, Reverse thy phrase, so thus the words may fall, In place of "all I ask," say, "I ask all," All that pertains to earth or soars above, All that thou wert, art, will be, body, soul, Love asks the whole.